Apparatus for manufacturing an album page

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for manufacturing an album page wherein a tape is folded longitudinally and is applied to the album page and has secured thereto staplelike hinge elements. A tape supply mechanism is provided for advancing a continuous strip of tape in a predetermined direction, the tape being engaged and scored by a scoring mechanism to facilitate folding thereof. A stitching mechanism for applying the staplelike hinge elements to the tape and means for applying the longitudinally folded tape to one longitudinal edge of the album page.

United States Patent i l3,620,882

[72] Inventors Tien S. ch01! [56] 7 References Cited ER Z TP E? S Cl d R A UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,798,523 7/1957 Barrett 156/202 Wenstrom, St. Cloud, all of Minn. 3 045 742 7 1 6 1 6 202 [2U APPLNQ 5 5 7 l 9 2 Brooketal. 5

. 3,239,402 3/1966 Ecklund et a1 156/202 M970 3 456 303 7/1969 Holes et a1 24/2 [45] Patented .Noh 16,1971 [73] Assignee The Holes-Wehway Co. Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt St. Cloud, Minn. Assistant Examiner-Harold J. Tudor Attorney-Williamson, Palmatier & Bains [54] APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING AN ALBU PAGE 10 Claims, 18 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: Apparatus for manufacturing an album page wherein a tape is folded longitudinally and is applied to the album page and has secured thereto staplelike hinge elements.

[52] U.S. Cl 156/461, A tape supply mechanism is provided for advancing a continu- 156/202, 156/477 B, 156/479 ous strip of tape in a predetermined direction, the tape being [51] Int. Cl B3lf 1/00, engaged and scored by a scoring mechanism to facilitate fold- B32b 3/04 ing thereof. A stitching mechanism for applying the staplelike [50] Field of Search 156/461, hinge elements to the tape and means for applying the longitu- 477 /2 dinally folded tape to one longitudinal edge of the album page.

PATENTEDunv 16 I97! 3,620, 82

sum u or 7 I NVEN'TORS 7/511 67/011 6710a BY W/LFQED 2' 704144424 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING AN ALBUM PAGE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the provision of apparatus for manufacturing an album page wherein an elongate adhesive-coated tape is advanced under a predetermined uniform tension in a manner to control the feed rate of the tape to minimize tape breakage and to minimize other tape feeding problems. The present apparatus for manufacturing album pages contemplates the application of the tape to the longitudinal edge of a page in such a manner as to avoid damage to the tape or to the page, and permitting the manufacture of pages of different thicknesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGS. OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1a is a partial perspective view of the apparatus for manufacturing an album page;

FIG. lb is a partial perspective view of the apparatus for manufacturing an album page;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the tape or binding member dispensing mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of the tape activating mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation view showing the album page advancing mechanism and the binding member cutting knife;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the album page advancing mechanism and binding member cutting knife of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the binding member cutting knife seat;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 77 of FIG. 5 showing the baffle seals and the shock absorbing elements;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines 9-9 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an end view taken along the lines 10 10 of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged transverse view of the binding member engaging mechanism of our invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an album page manufactured by the method and apparatus of our invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1a illustrating a portion of a modified form of the apparatus for manufacturing an album page;

FIG. 14 is a partial plan view of that portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 15-15 of FIG. 14 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of another portion of the modified form of the apparatus for forming an album page; and

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating an album page manufactured with the apparatus of FIGS. 14 through 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of our invention is shown in FIGS. 1a and lb and is denoted, in general, by numeral 20. The apparatus is adapted to dispense and apply a binding member or tape having a binding engaging element secured thereon onto an album page backing sheet which is prepared to receive transparent sleeves in a subsequent operation. The apparatus is best described by beginning with the origin of the binding member or tape in roll form and following the tape through the machine which first converts the tape to the binding member by applying binding engaging elements thereto, next properly positions and applies the binding member to the album page sheet of backing material and finally separates the pages which are continuously held by the continuously moving binding member.

Referring to FIGS. 1a and 2, the tape or binding member supply mechanism is indicated, in general, by numeral 21. A mounting platform or plate 22 is attached to upright plate element 23 by bracket assembly 24. Plate 22 is positioned horizontally to receive a roll of tape 25 which is horizontally oriented so that the strip of tape is vertically disposed as it is dispensed. The tape which is typically used is a paperbacked, water-activated tape which is commercially available and which has an approximate width of from 3/8 to 5/8 inch, as desired.

Tape 25 is securely held on horizontal plate 22 by the tightening mechanism 26 which threads a washer 27 into abutting relation with tape 25. Tightening mechanism 26 includes an upright shaft 28 which projects through washer 27 and receives a corresponding tightening member (not shown) located beneath plate 22 so that the roll of tape 25 is securely mounted on plate 22 but may rotate freely thereon about upright shaft 28 which rotates with the roll of tape 25. A brakedrum 30 is securely attached to shaft 28 and a brake band 31 is mounted on drum 30 and is attached at one end to bracket 32 which extends downwardly from plate 22.

A protective cover 33 aids in maintaining the tape roll in proper position and in guiding the tape which is being dispensed from the roll. Cover 33 is secured to plate 22 by bolt assemblies spaced apart therefrom a sufficient distance to allow the tape roll to rotate freely between the cover plate 33 and the plate 22.

An L-shaped arm 34 is pivotally mounted on plate 22 and comprises an outer leg 340, an inner leg 34b and an upright shaft 34c connecting one end of the outer leg 34a to one end of the inner leg 34b. Outer leg 34a is connected at its other end to one end of a coil spring 35. The other end of spring 35 is attached to connecting rod 36 which in turn is connected to one end of brake band 31 by an attachment element 370. Inner leg 34b has a roller 37 revolvably mounted at one end thereof for rotation about an upright axis. Roller 37 is urged into rolling contact with the roll of tape 25 so as the tape is unwound, the diameter of the tape roll will diminish, and movement of inner arm 34b about shaft 341: decreases the drag of brake band 31 on drum 30.

When the tape roll is at its largest diameter, the brake band exerts the highest pressure on the brake drum thereby greatly retarding the free rotation of the tape roll. This is necessary to prevent runaway unrolling of the tape roll and hence breakage of tape as the tape is dispensed from the roll. However, as the tape roll diameter decreases in size, the maintenance of a constant amount of drag on the roll would result again in an increasing percentage of tape breakage during dispensing as the diameter of the roll became less. Therefore, it is necessary to decrease the drag as the tape roll becomes less in diameter, and to maintain constant tape tension. Since the relation between the desired drag and the tape roll diameter is in general not linear, easy adjustment is needed. This may be accomplished in any one of the three adjustments. One such adjustment involves the changing of the angle between the legs 34a and 34!; by slightly rotating the legs on shaft 340 The desired drag may also be obtained by changing spring 35. Finally the desired drag may be obtained by manipulation of adjusting nuts 370 which connect rod 36 to plate 22.

As the tape is unwound from the roll, it engages an upright guide pin 38 and then is trained over an idler roller 39 which is revolvably mounted on plate 23 for rotation relative thereto about a horizontal axis. The tape then passes over roller 40 and into contact with scoring knives or needles 4] which are shiftably mounted in adjustable mounting block 42 which in turn is bolted to plate 23. Knives 41 score, but do not cut through the continuous tape along the longitudinal centerline thereof during the travel of the tape over roller 40.

Closely spaced parallel grooves or score lines are spaced on each side of the tape centerline and aid in folding the tape along the longitudinal centerline at the station for attachment of the tape to the sheet of backing material. The location and depth of the score line may be changed by adjusting block 42 and by the adjusting knives 41. The knives 41 pivot in block 42 by means of pivot 420 which is transverse to the direction of travel of the tape. A spring 4211 is connected to the knife to maintain tension thereon.

The strip of tape 25 next passes over idler roller 43 and then contacts the tape advancing mechanism 44 and rotates on tape dispensing roller 44a which is rotatably mounted on slotted arm 45 having an elongate slot 45a therein. Roller 440 rotates about a fixed and generally horizontal axis on arm 45. The lower end of arm 45 has a sleeve thereon which is pivotally mounted on plate 23 by means of a pivot 46 to permit horizontal pivoting movement of the arm.

An air cylinder 47 is mounted on plate 23 in any suitable manner and is connected to a suitable source of compressed air to provide double acting travel to ram 48 as desired. One end of ram 48 is provided with an attachment pin 48a which extends through slot 45a to connect the ram to arm 45. Attachment pin 48a may be adjustably positioned along slot 45a at any desired point to impart varying amounts of travel to roller 44 and thus varying the amount of tape dispensed without the need for adjusting the stroke of ram 48.

The compressed air controls are not shown but are standard, commercially available units responsive to solenoidoperated valves and suitable electric circuitry, relay mechanisms and timers which operably connect and coordinate the operation of ram 48 to the overall machine 20. Since the connections are standard and well known, they will not be further described herein. Suitable supporting framework 49 supports the plate 23. A roller 50 is rotatably attached to framework 49 and rides on track for adjusting the machine for manufacture of varying sized pages.

Idler roller 53 is rotatably mounted on upright plate 23 for rotation about a horizontal axis providing a revolvable guiding surface for tape 25 prior to entry of the tape strip into tape brake mechanism 54. This tape brake mechanism comprises an air cylinder 55 which is double acting and which is connected to a suitable source of compressed air. Suitable solenoid-operated valves and timing circuitry (not shown) are also provided for controlling coordinating air cylinder 55 with respect to the overall operation of the machine 20. Ram 56 is attached to reciprocating brake block 57 which mates with stationary brake block 58 which is attached to plate 23. Tape 25 is guided between the movable block 57 and stationary block 58 and is then trained about guide roller 59 which rotates about a horizontal shaft affixed to plate 23. Cylinder 47 and cylinder 55 are actuated simultaneously and are connected by means of solenoid-operated valves and electric circuitry to provide simultaneous operation.

As ram 48 is urged outwardly, ram 57 brakes tape 25 at tape brake mechanism 54. Therefore, roller 44a in response to extensible movement of ram 48 may advance tape 25 forwardly from the roll of tape 25. When ram 48 is returned to its normal position, brake 54 releases completing the tape or binding member advancing operation. The tape or binding member is then free to proceed along the predetermined path of travel through the machine for subsequent operations.

Tape 25 next passes through the station for attachment of the binding engaging element. To perform this function, a commercially available wire stitcher known under the trade name Bostitch." Boston Wire Stitcher is included, and is indicated, in general, by numeral 60. The wire stitcher includes a plurality of stitching heads 61 which may be spaced along the path of travel of tape 25 as desired and which operate in combination with adjustable clinchers 62. One stitching head cooperates with one clincher to form the wire strand from unwound spool 63 into a binding engaging element, similar to a staple, which is secured to the tape at predetermined intervals. Details of the operation of the stitcher are well known and will not be described in detail herein. The stitcher is modified to provide spacing between the bight or web portion of the staple and the binding member or tape 25. The wire staple is affixed to the tape along the longitudinal centerline thereof and is placed with the prongs of the staple or binding engaging element engaging or bent against the adhesive side of the tape, with web portion of the staple projecting outwardly in confronting relation with the paperbacked side of tape 25. Further, the web portion is spaced from the tape a distance sufficient to allow a binding belt to be inserted between the web portion of the staple and the tape 25. This stitching mechanism is coordinated with the machine operation and is supported by a suitable support 65 which is slidably mounted on track 66 for adjustment of the stitching mechanism along the predetermined path of travel of tape 25 to accommodate varying sized pages. A marker 68 is affixed to stitcher 60 by bracket 69 for locating the stitcher for accommodating varying sized pages along scale 67.

An air cylinder 70 is connected at one end to stationary frame 71 and includes a ram 72 which is attached at its outer end to support 65. Cylinder 70 is a double acting ram connected to a suitable source of compressed air and provided with suitable controls (not shown here to locate stitcher 60 along track 66 and to properly place the stitcher for the selected size page which is being formed.

In this manner apparatus 20 is quickly adjustable for manufacture of varying sized pages without the need for manually locating the stitcher relative to frame 71.

After binding engaging element 64 has been affixed to the tape or binding member 25, the tape must be activated for subsequent adherence to the sheet of backing material of the album page material. Of course, other tapes may be used such as pressure-sensitive adhesives on a plastic-backed tape or other tapes whichutilize other than a water-activated adhesive. When utilizing water-activated adhesive, a water reservoir 73 is used to supply water to tank 74 into which a wick 75 is immersed projecting upwardly therefrom.

The adhesive side of tape 25 engages wick 75 which suitably wets the adhesives, thereby activating it. As best shown in FIG. 3, the reservoir 73 is threaded into a threaded receiving member 76 so that the mouth 77 of the water reservoir will determine the water level of the water within tank 74. The water level is indicated at numeral 78. As the water reservoir 73 is raised within receiving member 76, the water level 78 is raised thereby increasing the saturation of wick 75 which carries more water to the surface 79 of the wick 75 and then to the tape 25 at the adhesive side thereof. Guides 80, affixed to the tank 74, maintain tape 25 in proper alignment and in contact with wick 75 at top edge 79.

In low-humidity atmosphere the water level 78 must be high to provide a great deal of water to the tape. On the other hand, a high-humidity atmosphere would require a low water level and reservoir 73 may be adjusted downwardly thereby lowering the water level and decreasing the amount of moisture supplied to the tape. Water must be added to water-activated tape in such a way that the tape does not stretch or shrink from the addition of improper amounts of water. The tape must be uniform in all types of atmospheric conditions and the present water reservoir provides quick and efficient adjustment to correspond to atmospheric conditions at the time of manufacture. Thus the application of water to the adhesive of the water-activated tape is accomplished in such a controlled manner that the paper backing is not adversely affected.

As the tape 25 proceeds along its path of travel, after the wick 75 has properly activated the adhesive, the tape passes through folding station 81 where the tape is folded along its longitudinal centerline to form the tape into V-shaped cross section. The tape in its folded position advances to the clamping station which securely affixes the tape to the sheet of backing material of the album page.

Referring to FIGS. lb and I1, a tape-engaging mechanism is indicated, in general, by numeral 82 and comprises a double acting air cylinder 83 which is connected in communicating relation to a suitable source of compressed air and which is synchronized with the machine for coordinated operation by well-known solenoid-operated valves and conventional electric circuitry (not shown herein). It will be noted that cylinder 83 is attached to frame 71 by bracket 83a. The sheets 85 of backing material are arranged in a pile and the operator of the machine manually dispenses a single sheet 85 from the pile and places it on table 86. Table 86 is slidably mounted in frame 71 for reciprocating movement transverse to the predetermined path of travel of binding member 25 and in the direction indicated hy the arrow 87. Each sheet 85 of backing material is placed in the adjustable guides 88. When the table 86 is shifted inwardly, the binding member engaging mechanism is actuated at the point of maximum inward travel of table 86 to thereby cause the binding member 25 to be secured to the sheet of backing material 85.

The binding member engaging mechanism 82 includes upper hingedly mounted jaw 89 hinged mounted by a hinge 91 to pivot about an axis parallel with the direction of travel of tape 25. The binding engaging mechanism also includes a lower stationary jaw plate 90 which mates with hinged jaw 89 to clamp the tape or binding member 25 onto the sheet of backing material 85. Hinge 91 is connected to a stationary mounting plate 92 by means of bolts 94 to angle member 93 which is affixed, as by welding, to the mounting plate 92. It should be carefully noted that there is a substantial distance between the connection point of hinge 91 and the hinge axis. This provides flexibility to the hinge, allowing it to raise from its point of connection rather than give at its axis to thereby absorb variation in the thicknesses of the sheets of backing material 85 and the tape 25 at the point of impact between upper jaw 89 and lower jaw plate 90 when compressing the binding member to the sheet of material.

Further, provision is made for receiving paper scraps which result from the operation and which oftentimes become jammed between plate 92 and hinge 91. To this end, a recess 95 is provided below hinge 91 to receive scraps or paper remnants and to allow them to flow downwardly through conduit 96 which communicates with recess 95 and which has an outlet through which the scraps are discharged.

A spring 97 connects upper jaw 89 to mounting plate 98 which is affixed to frame 71. Therefore, spring 97 constantly urges upper jaw 89 upwardly and away from the clamping position. Ram 99 of cylinder 83 is attached to a link member 100 which reciprocates in the direction of arrow 101 in response to extension and retraction of ram 99 which is operably connected to the machine. As the reciprocating table 86 is shifted inwardly by the operator, cylinder 83 is actuated, urging ram 99 and link 100 outwardly in the direction of arrow 101. Connecting links 102 and 103 urge jaw actuating plate 104, which is connected to pivot 105 for pivotal movement about axes disposed substantially parallel to the direction of travel of tape 25. Bracket 106 is affixed to jaw actuating plate 104 and receives link 103 for pivotal movement relative thereto. Supporting link 102 is pivotally attached to link 103 and mounting plate 98 to provide sufficient support for the linkage assembly. A cam 107 is adjustably mounted on jaw actuating plate 104 by means of a nut which threadedly engages the upper threaded end of the cam. With this arrangement, the pressure between the jaw and jaw plate may be readily adjusted.

A second binding member engaging mechanism station may be included and is indicated by numeral 110. This station is similar to the above-mentioned binding member engaging mechanism and will not further be described herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10, the novel album page advancing and separating mechanism of the apparatus will be described. The album page advancing and separating mechanism is indicated by numeral 111, and comprises double acting air cylinder 112 connected to a suitable source of compressed air through conduits 113 and 114. Air cylinder 112 is interrelated to the previously mentioned air cylinders for coordinated operation of cylinder 112 with these other cylinders. Cylinder 112 includes a ram 115 which is connected to an upper clamp plate 116 which in turn is vertically shiftable by upright guides 117. Cylinder 112 is mounted on frame 71 by an upright bracket 118. Upper clamp plate 116 vertically reciprocates on vertical guides 117 in response to extension and retraction of ram 115.

Intermediate clamp plate 119 reciprocates with upper clamp plate 116 and is also attached to guides 117 Additional guiding elements 120 are included to maintain plate 119 in alignment with plate 116. A plurality of springs 121 yieldably urge the intermediate clamp plate 119 away from the upper clamp plate 116. A knife 122 is attached to upper clamp plate 116 and reciprocates therewith in an upright plate in slot 123 formed in intermediate clamp plate 119.

Lower clamp plate 124 is stationary with respect to upright bracket 118 and includes a pair of seat members 125 adapted to mate with knife 122 to provide cutting action therebetween. One of these seat members is shown in detail in FIG. 6, and it will be noted that it has a concave surface 126 and an aperture 127 therein adapted to receive a bolt member to secure the seat member to the lower stationary clamping plate. The cutting edge of the seat member is indicated at 128 and mates with the knife 122.

The concave surface provides surface to permit the cut material to be disposed downwardly through the machine thereby preventing undue pressure of the knife on the seat. Such undue pressure would be transmitted to the intermediate clamping plate thereby reducing the cutting efiiciency. It should be noted that the seat is reversible and may be rotated about an axis through aperture 127, I degrees providing use of cutting edge 128a after cutting edge 128 has become worn. Further, the seat may be inserted in lower clamp plate 124 with cutting edge 128b adapted to engage the knife and, when this edge becomes worn, the seat may again be rotated I80 degrees to take advantage of cutting edge 128c. In each instance, of course, advantage is taken of the concave surface 126 reducing the pressure on the knife and the intermediate and upper clamping plates.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the sheet of backing material and the tape proceed into paper and binder member receiving slot 129. In advancing and separating the album pages, cylinder 112 is actuated at the appropriate time. This operation of the cylinder is controlled and coordinated by conventional electrical circuitry and solenoid valves to rapidly urge the upper clamp plate 116 downwardly and with the intermediate clamp plate 119 being urged downwardly simultaneously. However, intermediate clamp 119 first contacts the binding member and album page sheet within slot 129 and holds it firmly therein.

At this point the action of springs or bias members 121 is overcome and the upper clamp plate 116 proceeds downwardly inserting knife 122 into the pair of seat members thereby cutting the binding member and separating the pages. Simultaneously, air cylinder 130, which is attached to frame 71 through suitable brackets, is actuated and advances cylinder 112 and the attached upper, intermediate and lower clamp plates in the direction indicated by arrow 131 along the path of travel of binding member 25 It should be noted that lower clamping plate 124 does not reciprocate, but it does slide along track 132 forcibly urged by ram 133 which is connected to lower clamp plates 124. Cylinder is connected to a suitable source of compressed air and is operably connected to the machine through suitable solenoid valves and electrical circuitry for operation coor dinated with the above-mentioned air cylinders.

Since the pages which are manufactured on the machine are of varying sizes, the amount of travel in the direction of arrow 131 must be varied. To this end, a rack 134 is provided to accurately adjust the amount of travel of the clamped album page in the direction of arrow 131. This may be set by adjusting block 135 to the desired setting along rack 134 thereby preventing travel beyond the predetermined point.

Since the operation of cylinder 130 is rapid, and since the distance which it travels is long and the stopping action abrupt, means must be provided to absorb the shock in both advance and return directions of cylinder 130. A shock absorber is provided and indicated, in general, by numeral 136.

The shock absorber is indirectly connected to reciprocating cylinder 130 through the clamping blocks which advance thc album pages. Shock absorber connecting member 137 is attached to upright plate 118 and is immersed in an oil bath tank 138. As best shown in absorber 8, the shock absorber connecting member 137 is of S-shaped configuration and descends into oil 139 within oil bath tank 138 through a series of declined baffles 140. The baffles decline downwardly approximately l degree so that oil splashed upwardly by the movement of the shock absorbing units in the oil bath contacts the baffles 140 and slides or flows downwardly back into the oil bath tank.

Connecting member 137 is attached to a pair of communicating return and forward reciprocating shock absorber cup members as by bolting. Return shock absorber cup element 141 includes a stop member socket 141a and a smaller axial opening 142 therein to receive a mating return shock absorber stop member 143 having a first projecting portion 143a and a larger second portion 143b as shown in FIG. 7. The shock absorber stop member 143 is one the return side of the travel of the ram 133 and mates with the shock absorber cup member 141. The shock absorber cup for the advance side is indicated by numeral 144, includes socket 144a and has a smaller axial opening which communicates with axial opening 142 and is of substantially the same size. Mating advance shock absorber stop member 145 includes forward portion 145a and a second larger diameter portion 145b which is of elongate tubular construction.

The shock absorber, as it reciprocates in the oil bath, causes socket 14a to first confront portion 143a and then portion 143b of stop member 143. At this point, since the axial opening 142 is blocked by portion 143a, and the open end of socket 141a is blocked byportion l43b cup member 141 and stop member 143 form a substantially closed volume filled with oil. This volume decreases rapidly as cup member 141 moves toward stop member 143. It was found that the diameters of opening 142 and socket 141a must be somewhat bigger than the diameters of portions 143a and 143b respectively, so that part of the oil captured in the volume can escape therefrom thus reducing the pressure inside the volume. This pressure forces cup member 141 and consequently the album page advancing and separating mechanism 111 to slow down in a short time. Note that the pressure is approximately inversely proportional to the speed of the cup member 141. This affords a good shock absorbing effect. Some of the oil which is forced out of the volume on the side of stop element 143 flows through relief opening 146 into cavity 146a preventing the oil from being forced upward.

The operation of the advance stroke cushioned stop is similar and will not be repeated herein. A relief opening 147 is included on the advance side allowing oil to flow into cavity 147a (see FIG. 9). A guide is included for the advance side stop member 145 and is indicated, in general, by numeral 148. It is anchored on elongate tubular portion 145b by collars 149 which are attached to the shaft 145 by setscrews 150. A suitable commercially available seal 151 seals the shaft within the oil bath and sufficient length on the elongate tubular advance side stop member 14512 is provided to allow proper setting of the shock absorber depending upon the page size and the corresponding setting on the ram of cylinder 130. FIG. 10 shows a dovetail construction, indicated at 152, for tank 138 which allows quick and easy assembly of the oil bath tank yet affording an oiltight tank.

In operation, the apparatus if preset for a particular size page. Since the dimensions of the pages which may be manufactured on the machine vary, various settings on the machine must be preset depending upon the page size which is to be run. Of course, a large number of identically sized pages are run between settings. However, the machine will accept various sized pages with a minimum of adjustments thereby eliminating much downtime in changing over the machine from running one size page to running another size page.

The tape advancing mechanism 44 is first set to advance a predetermined amount of tape 25 from the tape supply and brake mechanism 21. This adjustment is made by locating the end of ram 48 along slot 45:: in arm 45 which arm is driven by ram 48 and cylinder 47. In this manner, it is not necessary to adjust the stroke of ram 48 within cylinder 47. Tape is dispensed to correspond to the length of the page being run.

Next, wire stitcher 60 is up with stitching heads 61 placed as desired within stitcher 60 for dispensing of staples 64 at predetermined intervals. Next, cylinder 70 and ram 72 are actuated to position the stitching machine 60, tape brake mechanism 54, tape advancing mechanism 44, and tape roll 21 in position relative to clamping stations 82 and and album page advancing mechanism 111 which slides on frame 71 as shown in FIG. lb. Depending upon the page size which is to run, that portion of the apparatus which is shown in FIG. la must be in a predetermined position relative to that portion shown in FIG. 1b in order to achieve optimum operating efficiency for a given page size.

The reciprocating movement of the album page advancing and separating mechanism 111 must be set to correspond to the page size to be run such that the amount of tape which is dispensed by tape-dispensing mechanism 44 corresponds to the amount of forward travel of the album page advancing and separating mechanism. This is done by adjusting the stroke of ram 133 in cylinder that is, the location of block 135.

After the machine has been properly adjusted to run a specific page size, the operation begins at the tape supply and brake mechanism 21 at which point the tape is taken from a roll in such a way that as the size of the roll of tapedecreases in diameter, tension thereon is decreased. It should be noted that when the tape roll is at its largest diameter, the brakedrum exerts the greatest pressure on the tape thereby greatly retarding the free rotation of the tape roll. As the tape roll diameter decreases in size, it is necessary to decrease the pressure on the tape roll. The pressure on the roller prevents a runaway roll and consequently breakage of tape and the decreasing pressure prevents tape breakage at reduced tape roll diameters.

The tape progresses along a predetermined path of travel, is scored by knife 41 along both sides of the longitudinal centerline and then passes over suitable idler and guide rolls to the tape advancing mechanism 44. At this station a predetermined amount of tape is dispensed while the tape brake mechanism 54 holds the tape in position forwardly of the tape advancing mechanism. Of course, cylinders 47 and 55 are synchronized in operation by suitable electrical circuitry and solenoid valves.

Proceeding along the path of travel of tape 25, wire stitcher 60 places a staple member in the tape with the prongs of the staple applied against the adhesive side of the tape and the web portion of the staple oriented along the crease provided in the tape by knife 41. The web portion of staple 64 is spaced apart from the backing side of the tape a distance suitable to insert a binding belt between the tape and web portion of the staple. The tape 25 then passes over wick 75 which activates the adhesive side of the tape. It should be noted that reservoir 73 is adjustable in tank 74 such that the amount of water on wick 75 may be adjusted depending upon humidity at the time of manufacture. the tape will stretch and thus change the intervals between successive staples if too much moisture is applied. Therefore, in humid conditions reservoir 73 is adjusted so that less water is on wick 75. Similarly, in dry conditions more water is placed on wick 75 by raising reservoir 73.

The tape then goes to folding station 81 where it is folded into a V-shaped transverse cross section with the wire portion of the staple projecting outwardly from the backing side and the tape and the activated adhesive side being on the inside of the legs of the v. In this form, the tape proceeds into binding member engaging mechanism 82 and the operator places the album page backing material onto guides 88 on reciprocating table 86, and moves table 86 into the binding member engaging mechanism 82 which clamps the tape onto the sheet of backing material 85. Cylinder 83 activates the tape engaging mechanism and is coordinated with the operation of the aforementioned air cylinders. The clamping jaws are so hinged that variations in thickness will not harm the hinge.

The album page advancing and separating mechanism 111 I then advances in response to movement of ram 133 of cylinder 130 which is operably connected to and synchronized with the aforementioned cylinders, thereby advancing the album page material into the next and final clamping station which again clamps and seals the binding member or tape to the sheet of album page. Simultaneously, knife 122 severs tape 25 separating the pages after the second clamping operation by clamping mechanisms 111. The pages are then stacked for removal to the final operation station. At the final station transparent sleeves are inserted over the pages and the pages are then assembled into a bound album.

It should be noted that the album page in the above form may be run through the machine for placement of tape on that edge located oppositely of the edge to which the staple mounted tape is applied. This operation is similar to the aforementioned operation except that wire stitcher 60 will not be in operation and will not be discussed herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 through 17, it will be seen that a different embodiment of the apparatus and album page is there shown. This apparatus designated generally by the reference numeral 220 includes a tape member supply mechanism 221 comprised of a mounting plate 222 which is horizontally oriented and is rigidly secured to the upright plate 223 by means of a bracket assembly 224. A roll 225 of tape is mounted on the plate 222 and this tape is preferably a paperback water-activated tape of the type illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 2.

A tightening mechanism 226 also includes a washer 227 which is threaded into abutting relation with the roll 225 so that the roll is securely mounted on the plate 222. The tightening mechanism 226 includes an upright shaft 228 which projects through the washer 227 and is secured by another tightening member (not shown) in the manner of the embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 2. In this regard, the roll 225 is freely rotatable upon the upright shaft 228. A break drum 230 is connected with the shaft 228 and a band 231 is mounted on the drum 230 and is attached at one end to a bracket 232 which extends downwardly from the plate 222.

A protective cover 233 serves to maintain the tape roll in a proper horizontal position and assists in guiding the tape which is being dispensed from the roll. The cover 233 is secured to the plate 222 by a nut-and-bolt assembly.

An L-shaped arm 234 which is part of the brake and tensioning mechanism is also provided and this tensioning mechanism is substantially identical to that disclosed in FIGS. Iaand FIG. 2. Therefore a detailed description of the various components thereof is felt unnecessary for this embodiment. This tensioning and break mechanism prevents runaway unrolling and breakage of the tape.

As the tape is unwound from the roll, it engages an upright guide pin 238 and it is then trained over roller 239, roller 240 and then into contact with a scoring knife 241. The knife 241 s shiftably mounted on a mounting block which is secured to the plate 223. The knife 241 scores the tape but does not completely cut through the tape.

The tape is next trained over a roller 244a which is part of a tape advancing mechanism 244. It will be seen that the roller 244a is rotatably mounted on the slotted arm 245 which has a sleeve at its lower end that is pivotally mounted on the upright plate 223 by a pivot 246. An air cylinder 247 is also mounted on the plate 223 and is of the double acting type. The piston rod 248 of the air cylinder is connected to the slotted arm and is adjustable relative thereto. The air cylinder is also connected to a suitable source of air under pressure and is provided with solenoid-operated valves, electric circuitry, relay mechanisms and timers which operably connect and coordinate the operation of the piston rod with respect to the entire apparatus. Thus the tape advancing mechanism 244 is identical to that shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1a.

This tape advancing mechanism also includes a supporting framework 249 for supporting the plate 223 and a roller 250 is rotatably attached to the framework 249 and rides a track 251 for adjusting the apparatus for manufacture of various size pages.

The tape is then trained about an idle roller 253 and thereafter through a tape brake mechanism 254. The tape brake mechanism includes an air cylinder 255 which is of the double acting type, connected to a suitable source of compressed air. SoIenoid-operated valves and timing circuitry (not shown) are provided for controlling operation of the air cylinder in synchronization with operation of the entire apparatus. The piston rod 256 is attached to a reciprocating brake block 257 which mates with a stationary block 258. After the tape is passed through the brake mechanism 254, the tape is trained about a guide roller 259. It is pointed out that the air cylinder 247 and cylinder 255 operate simultaneously and it is further pointed out that the brake mechanism 254 operates in substantially the identical manner as the brake mechanism of FIG. 1a.

The tape then is passed through a diecutting mechanism 260 where the tape is die cut by a pneumatic actuated die 261 to from generally rectangular-shaped openings 0 in the tape, as best seen in FIG. 14. In this regard, it will be noted that the openings 0 are centrally located with respect to the width dimension of the tape and are longitudinallyspaced apart.

After the tape has been die cut and when utilizing a tape having water-activated adhesive, the tape is passed over a wick to activate the adhesive surface of the tape. The wick is partially immersed in a tank 274 and water is supplied to the tank by a reservoir bottle 273. This entire wetting mechanism is identical to that shown in FIG. la and FIG. 3.

After the tape passes the wetting mechanism, the tape which is then horizontally disposed is passed between a pair of guide rollers 275 which are vertically oriented and revolve about vertical axes. These guide rollers are mounted on a support plate 276 which also suitably supports a roll 277 of wire 278. The wire and strip of tape both pass between a roller 279 and a roller 280 which are disposed in mating relation with respect to each other and which are also revolvably mounted on the plate 276 for rotation about vertical axes. It will be noted that the roller 279 has the configuration of a pulley and converges symmetrically from opposite ends to a relatively narrow waist. The pulley 280, on the other hand, flairs outwardly from reduced end portions to a relatively enlarged waist which projects into the concavity of the roller 279. This coaction of the rollers 279 and 280 causes the tape to be folded longitudinally along its longitudinal centerline and also causes the wire 278 to be applied against the fold line of the tape. In this regard, the folded concave side of the tape is the adhesive-coated side thereof.

Although not shown in the drawing, the apparatus of FIGS. 13 through 16 will also be provided with a binding member engaging mechanism identical to that shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1b. Thus, the paper sheet will be fed into close proximity to the partially folded tape to permit the tape and wire to be applied against one longitudinal edge of each page. The pages will be interconnected by the tape in the manner of the previously described embodiment and the interconnected album pages will then be advanced to the next station.

This next station comprises an album page advancing and separating mechanism 311 which includes a double acting pneumatic piston and cylinder unit mounted within the housing 312. This pneumatic piston and cylinder unit is connected to a source of air under pressure by suitable conduits 313. The pneumatic cylinder and piston unit serves to operate the shiftable die member 314 which is vertically shiftable with respect to a fixed die member 315. The album pages which are interconnected by the strip of tape are passed between the fixed and movable die members which serves to not only cut the tape so that it corresponds to the length of the album page. but also simultaneously forms openings in each page along the longitudinal edge while simultaneously cutting the page transversely thereof.

In this regard, reference is made to FIG. 17 wherein album page manufactured by the apparatus of FIG. 1346 is illustrated. This album page, designated generally by the reference numeral 350 has a tape 351 applied to one longitudinal edge thereof in the manner of the embodiment of FIG. 1a through FIG. 12. The wire 278 and tape are applied against the entire inner longitudinal edge of the page prior to the album page being through the separating mechanism 311. The cooperating die members not only sever the tape and wire and simultaneously die cut the openings 352 into each page but also die cut the slits 353 transversely thereof. It will be noted that the slits 353 extend from one longitudinal edge of the page to a point located adjacent the hinge binding arrangement which is secured to the other longitudinal edge portion of the page. With this arrangement, transparent sleeves may be slid over each transverse section of each album page.

The apparatus of FIG. 16 is also provided with a double acting air cylinder 130 which is provided with a piston rod 133 which in turn is connected to the diecutting mechanism. The pneumatic cylinder and piston unit operates in the manner of the air cylinder 130 of FIG. 1 to FIG. 12. Thus a shock absorbing mechanism is provided and details of construction of this mechanism is thought to be unnecessary with respect to this embodiment. It is pointed out that the apparatus of FIGS. 13 through 16 operate substantially in the same manner as the apparatus of FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 except that the hinge mean is somewhat different from that shown in the previously discussed embodiment.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a new and improved method and apparatus for manufacturing an album page, which method and apparatus is of simple and inexpensive construction and operation such that a person of minimum skill and manual dexterity may carry out manufacture of any predetermined size album page. However, our apparatus and method accurately and consistently produces an album page of predetermined dimensions which may be quickly and efficiently bound into an album with proper registry of the pages in the album and which pages will lie flat when the album is in use.

The method and apparatus of our invention utilizes several controls which assure a quality product with a minimum of downtime. Tape is dispensed from a supply roll mechanism and in a manner which places uniform stress on the tape from the beginning of a large diameter roll to the end of a small diameter roll thereby preventing tape breakage and attendant downtime. The water-activated adhesive on the tape is activated by a wick which carries water to the adhesive side of the tape depending upon surrounding conditions at the time of operation. The provision of a second clamping station further secures the tape or binding member on the sheet of backing material. The clamping stations utilize a hinge construction which will not fail if the material is too thick for the jaws or when no material is in position. The album page advancing and separating mechanism is cushioned at both the advance and return side to prevent damage to the machine and a defec- 1ive page. We have found that the staples are more uniformly spaced if the machine runs smoothly. Further, the album page advancing and separating mechanism is fast and efficient thereby allowing the operator of the machine to greatly increase production over that which has heretofore been available with other machines.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for manufacturing an album page having an elongate tape strip folded and applied to one edge thereof, the folded tape strip having U-shaped elements attached thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom, said apparatus comprising,

a frame,

a tape supply mechanism mounted on said frame for supporting a roll of tape thereon, said mechanism being operable to unwind and advance the strip of tape from the roll in predetermined amounts, the tape having adhesive on one side thereof,

a plurality of guide rolls rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to receive the tape from said tape supply mechanism whereby the tape is guided along a predetermined path of travel,

tape scoring means mounted on said frame interposed along the path of travel of the tape whereby the tape is continuously scored along a longitudinal line,

a tape dispensing mechanism mounted on said frame interposed along the path of travel of the tape, said tape dispensing mechanism adapted to dispense a predetermined amount of tape from said tape supply mechanism,

stitching means adapted to attached U-shaped hinge elements to the tape, the U-shaped hinge elements extending through the tape and being spaced from each other'at predetermined intervals along the tape, the bight portion of the U-shaped element spaced from the tape, whereby a binding belt may be inserted between the bight portion and tape,

' a folding station mounted on said frame adapted to engage and continuously fold the tape along the longitudinal score line thereof into substantially V-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration with the adhesive side disposed inwardly,

a tape engaging mechanism mounted on said frame and having mating clamping jaws shiftable between clamping and open positions, the clamping jaws when in the open position adapted to receive therebetween the folded V- shaped tape and an album page, the tape beingfolded over one longitudinal edge of the page, and said jaws when in the closed position, clamping the tape to the album page so that the U-shaped hinge elements project outwardly therefrom, said engaging mechanism including a jaw actuating mechanism operably connected to the jaws thereof for shifting the same between open and closed positions,

an advancing and separating mechanism adapted to advance an album page having the tape applied thereto, when said jaws are in open position said advancing and seperating mechanism including means for simultaneously severing the continuous strip of tape applied to an album page, and then serving to advance the forward portion of the tape strip into said clamping jaws.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including tape adhesive activating means mounted on said frame interposed along the path of travel of the tape for engaging and activating the adhesive su rface of the tape.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tape supply mechanism includes a brake mechanism maintaining uniform tension on the strip of tape as it is advanced and as the diameter of the roll of tape diminishes,

said tape dispensing mechanism comprises an arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said frame for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the tape, guide roll adapted to be engaged by the strip of tape and rotatably mounted on said arm for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the tape strip, an arm actuating mechanism for pivoting the arm between an advance position and a rearward position thereby providing arcuate motion to the guide roll attached thereon, the arm actuating mechanism being adjustably attached to the arm between the roll and the pivotal axis of the arm whereby the arcuate movement of said tape-engaging guide roll may be set at a predetermined arc, and including a second brake mechanism mounted on said frame forwardly of said tape dispensing mechanism and operably connected thereto whereby the tape is held in a fixed position forwardly of said tape dispensing mechanism simultaneously with actuation of said tape dispensing mechanism whereby a predetermined amount of tape is positively dispensed from said tape supply mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including a second tape-engaging mechanism positioned along the path of travel of the tape downstream from said first tape-engaging mechanism, said second tapenengaging mechanism adapted to securely affix the tape to an album page with the hinge elements projecting outwardly from an edge of the page.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second tape-engaging mechanism includes a pair of mating jaws, one which is stationary and the other of the mating jaws being attached to a hinge having a hinge line substantially parallel with the path of travel of the tape and attached to said frame along a line spaced apart from the hinge line of the jaw whereby the mating jaws are adapted to tolerate variances in the thickness of the tape and album page at the closed position of the mating aws.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tape adhesive activating means comprises a tank adapted to contain a tape activating fluid, wick means positioned in said tank and adapted to contact the adhesive side of the tape, and a reservoir adapted to contain tape activating fluid adjustably mounted on said tank whereby the level of the fluid in said tank may be selectively raised and lowered thereby selectively increasing and decreasing the wetting action of said wick means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said advancing and separating mechanism comprises a tape separating portion slidably mounted on said frame for movement along the path of travel of the tape between forward and rearward positions, said separating portion including,

an upper clamp plate having a knife blade mounted thereon,

and being adapted to be shifted between a tape receiving position, an intermediate clamping position and a cutting position,

an intermediate clamp plate shiftably mounted below said upper clamp plate and in registry therewith and adapted to be moved between a tape-clamping position, said intermediate clamp plate having a slot therein adapted to receive the knife blade from the upper clamp plate. lower clamp plate positioned below said intermediate clamp plate and in registry therewith, said lower clamp plate having a cutting seat therein adapted to receive the knife of said upper clamp plate, an actuating mechanism operably connected to said upper clamp whereby said upper clamp plate may be urged from the tape receiving position to the intermediate clamping position simultaneously positioning said intermediate clamp plate in the clamping position with the tape clamped between said intermediate clamp plate and said lower clamp plate and subsequently positioning said upper clamp plate in the cutting position whereby the cutting knife is adapted to sever the tape clamped between said intermediate clamp plate and said lower clamp plate, and

an advance mechanism adapted to selectively position said separately portion between forward and return positions whereby said separating portion advances at the clamping position of the intermediate and lower clamp plates and returns at the receiving position of said clamp plates.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 and means for longitudinally shifting said upper, intermediate and lower clamp plates, comprising a piston and cylinder unit, and a shock absorber mechanism connected with said piston and cylinder unit for dampening the shock produced during shifting movement of the piston of said piston and cylinder unit.

9. An apparatus for manufacturing an album page having an elongate tape strip folded and applied to one edge thereof, said page having spaced-apart recesses in said one edge thereof, an elongate hinge wire element positioned against said one edge and secured thereto by said tape strip, and defining with said page, strap confining recesses, said apparatus comprising,

a frame, a tape supply mechanism mounted on said frame for supporting a roll of tape thereon, said mechanism being operable to unwind and advance the strip of tape from the roll in predetermined amounts, the tape having adhesive on one side thereof,

a plurality of guide rolls rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to receive the tape from said tape supply mechanism whereby the tape is guided along a predetermined path of travel,

a first die mechanism mounted on said frame interposed along the path of travel of the tape and being operable to form apertures in the tape,

means engaging said tape to fold said tape along its longitudinal centerline, said adhesive side of said tape forming the concave fold side thereof,

hinge wire supply mechanism on said frame for supporting a roll of hinge wire thereon, means for unwinding the hinge from said roll and for advancing the same along a predetermined path,

means for applying the hinge along the folded adhesive side of the tape strip,

means for supplying album page sheets in a predetermined path of travel,

means for folding said tape strip and hinge wire against and along one edge of each sheet, the adhesive side of the tape strip being applied to the sheet,

a second die mechanism operable to out said tape strip and wire, and simultaneously to form recesses in each sheet which register with the apertures in the tape strip.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said second die mechanism is operable to form a pair of recesses in each sheet.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,520,9 2 Dated g g 1g 197],

Invent r(s) Tien S. Chou et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 13, line 2, change "tapenengaging" to read tape-engaging line 35, after "between" insert a tape receiving position and Column 14, line 2, change "separately" to separating Signed and sealed this 10th day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer )RM "04591 USCOMM-DC scan-Poo W U S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I959 O-36l"3ll 

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including tape adhesive activating means mounted on said frame interposed along the path of travel of the tape for engaging and activating the adhesive surface of the tape.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tape supply mechanism includes a brake mechanism maintaining uniform tension on the strip of tape as it is advanced and as the diameter of the roll of tape diminishes, said tape dispensing mechanism comprises an arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said frame for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the tape, guide roll adapted to be engaged by the strip of tape and rotatably mounted on said arm for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the tape strip, an arm actuating mechanism for pivoting the arm between an advance position and a rearward position thereby providing arcuate motion to the guide roll attached thereon, the arm actuating mechanism being adjustably attached to the arm between the roll and the pivotal axis of the arm whereby the arcuate movement of said tape-engaging guide roll may be set at a predetermined arc, and including a second brake mechanism mounted on said frame forwardly of said tape dispensing mechanism and operably connected thereto whereby the tape is held in a fixed position forwardly of said tape dispensing mechanism simultaneously with actuation of said tape dispensing mechanism whereby a predetermined amount of tape is positively dispensed from said tape supply mechanism.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 including a second tape-engaging mechanism positioned along the path of travel of the tape downstream from said first tape-engaging mechanism, said second tape-engaging mechanism adapted to securely affix the tape to an album page with the hinge elements projecting outwardly from an edge of the page.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second tape-engaging mechanism includes a pair of mating jaws, one which is stationary and the other of the mating jaws being attached to a hinge having a hinge line substantially parallel with the path of travel of the tape and attached to said frame along a line spaced apart from the hinge line of the jaw whereby the mating jaws are adapted to tolerate variances in the thickness of the tape and album page at the closed position of the mating jaws.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tape adhesive activating means comprises a tank adapted to contain a tape activating fluid, wick means positioned in said tank and adapted to contact the adhesive side of the tape, and a reservoir adapted to contain tape activating fluid adjustably mounted on said tank whereby the level of the fluid in said tank may be selectively raised and lowered thereby selectively increasing and decreasing the wetting action of said wick means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said advancing and separating mechanism comprises a tape separating portion slidably mounted on said frame for movement along the path of travel of the tape between forward and rearward positions, said separating portion including, an upper clamp plate having a knife blade mounted thereon, and being adapted to be shifted between a tape receiving position, an intermediate clamping position and a cutting position, an intermediate clamp plate shiftably mounted below said upper clamp plate and in registry therewith and adapted to be moved between a tape-receiving position and a tape-clamping position, said intermediate clamp plate having a slot therein adapted to receive the knife blade from the upper clamp plate. a lower clamp plate positioned below said intermediate clamp plate and in registry therewith, said lower clamp plate having a cutting seat therein adapted to receive the knife of said upper clamp plate, an actuating mechanism operably connected to said upper clamp whereby said upper clamp plate may be urged from the tape receiving position to the intermediate clamping position simultaneously positioning said intermediate clamp plate in the clamping position with the tape clamped between said intermediate clamp plate and said lower clamp plate and subsequently positioning said upper clamp plate in the cutting position whereby the cutting knife is adapted to sever the tape clamped between said intermediate clamp plate and said lower clamp plate, and an advance mechanism adapted to selectively position said separating portion between forward and return positions whereby said separating portion advances at the clamping position of the intermediate and lower clamp plates and returns at the receiving position of said clamp plates.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 and means for longitudinally shifting said upper, intermediate and lower clamp plates, comprising a piston and cylinder unit, and a shock absorber mechanism connected with said piston and cylinder unit for dampening the shock produced during shifting movement of the piston of said piston and cylinder unit.
 9. An apparatus for manufacturing an album page having an elongate tape strip folded and applied to one edge thereof, said page having spaced-apart recesses in said one edge thereof, an elongate hinge wire element positioned against said one edge and secured thereto by said tape strip, and defining with said page, strap confining recesses, said apparatus comprising, a frame, a tape supply mechanism mounted on said frame for supporting a roll of tape thereon, said mechanism being operable to unwind and advance the strip of tape from the roll in predetermined amounts, the tape having adhesive on one side thereof, a plurality of guide rolls rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to receive the tape from said tape supply mechanism whereby the tape is guided along a predetermined path of travel, a first die mechanism mounted on said frame interposed along the path of travel of the tape and being operable to form apertures in the tape, means engaging said tape to fold said tape along its longitudinal centerline, said adhesive side of said tape forming the concave fold side thereof, hinge wire supply mechanism on said frame for supporting a roll of hinge wire thereon, means for unwinding the hinge from said roll and for advancing the same along a predetermined path, means for applying the hinge along the folded adhesive side of the tape strip, means for supplying album page sheets in a predetermined path of travel, means for folding said tape strip and hinge wire against and along one edge of each sheet, the adhesive side of the tape strip being applied to the sheet, a second die mechanism operable to cut said tape strip and wire, and simultaneously to form recesses in each sheet which register with the apertures in the tape strip.
 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said second die mechanism is operable to form a pair of recesses in each sheet. 